a.

it may seem rather unusual, but i really see ash as a figure skater (considering how well he performed as a coordinator). his skating is especially energetic, more bouncy, and most of his programs are not classical. and his gala performances would definitely be silly!! i see him in a huge pikachu costume, having fun and trying to jump in it!

ash's biggest rival (and love at the same time) was, of course, gary motherfucking oak. ash, in fact, started skating only because gary was always bragging about how he was about to start jumping single jumps. so they went through the entire junior league together and the first few years of senior seasons, and they always stood together on the podium.

gary's skating is the opposite of ash's. gary focused more on deep edges and a more sophisticated step sequences, and all his programs are set to classics (bolero, hello).

i still think more about the fact that after the first three years in the senior league, gary suspended his skating career. this would be affected by his desire to get a scientific degree and an old ankle injury.

gary announced his retirement after the world championships, where he finished in twelfth place. ash found out about this before anyone else and promised that he would take the gold for two next time.